Rapid City, South Dakota – The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office reports a significant decrease in violent crime during the first half of 2025. According to new data, there was a 40% reduction from January to June compared to the same period last year. The statistics cover the county’s rural areas and communities such as Keystone, Hill City, and Wall, but do not include crime within Rapid City or Box Elder.
Violent crimes include aggravated assault, arson, burglary, homicide, robbery, and sexual assault. County deputies attribute the drop to more proactive patrolling and increased community reporting.
“We have noticed that our D.U.I. arrests have went up by 32% this year and our traffic stops are up by 3%, which is really an indicator that our deputies are out there being proactive,” said Captain Kraig Wood, a PCSO member. “They’re making our roads safer, they’re getting intoxicated drivers off the road, so that’s really what we want to see from our deputies.”
While patrol visibility is one factor, officials said substance abuse is still a major driver of criminal activity in the area. The report observed a significant increase in the use of Naloxone to prevent overdose deaths.
“It is encouraging to see a reduction in violent crimes,” according to Investigator Taylor Sperle in a statement. “We know substance abuse is often a root cause of other crimes, and we remain committed to deploying law enforcement resources to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating in our area.”
Deputies with the sheriff’s office anticipate an increase in traffic stops as the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally approaches, but they have not seen a corresponding increase in violent crime during the event. Officials said they are satisfied with their current patrolling strategies and expect a safe rally season.
